820-nm Transcranial near-infrared stimulation on the left DLPFC relieved anxiety: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study

Huicong Wang; Penghui Song; Yue Hou; Jianghong Liu; Wensi Hao; Shimin Hu; Xiaona Dai; Shuqin Zhan; Ning Li; Mao Peng; Hongxing Wang; Hua Lin; Yuping Wang

doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110682

820-nm Transcranial near-infrared stimulation on the left DLPFC relieved anxiety: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study

Brain Res Bull. 2023 Aug:200:110682. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110682. Epub 2023 Jun 8.

Authors

Huicong Wang¹, Penghui Song², Yue Hou³, Jianghong Liu¹, Wensi Hao⁴, Shimin Hu⁴, Xiaona Dai⁴, Shuqin Zhan¹, Ning Li¹, Mao Peng¹, Hongxing Wang¹, Hua Lin¹, Yuping Wang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing 100053, China; Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China; Center for sleep and consciousness disorders, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing 100053, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
² Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing 100053, China; Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China; Center for sleep and consciousness disorders, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing 100053, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China. Electronic address: songpenghui0104@163.com.
³ Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing 100053, China; Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China; Center for sleep and consciousness disorders, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing 100053, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China; Hebei Hospital of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000 China; Neuromedical Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, 050000 China.
⁴ Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing 100053, China; Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
⁵ Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing 100053, China; Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China; Center for sleep and consciousness disorders, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing 100053, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China; Hebei Hospital of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000 China; Neuromedical Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, 050000 China. Electronic address: doctorwangyuping@163.com.

PMID: 37301483
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110682

Abstract

Objective: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic mood disease associated with abnormal brain network connections, including decreased activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Cortical excitability can be increased with 820-nm transcranial near-infrared stimulation (tNIRS), while transcranial magnetic stimulation with electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) can help evaluate time-varying brain network connectivity. A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of tNIRS on the left DLPFC and the impact on time-varying brain network connections in GAD patients.

Methods: A total of 36 GAD patients were randomized to receive active or sham tNIRS for 2 weeks. Clinical psychological scales were assessed before, after, and at the 2-, 4-, and 8-week follow-ups. TMS-EEG was performed for 20 min before and immediately after tNIRS treatment. The healthy controls did not receive tNIRS and only had TMS-EEG data collected once in the resting state.

Results: The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scores of the active stimulation group decreased post-treatment compared with the sham group (P = 0.021). The HAMA scores of the active stimulation group at the 2-, 4-, and 8-week follow-up assessments were lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05). The time-varying EEG network pattern showed an information outflow from the left DLPFC and the left posterior temporal region after active treatment.

Conclusion: Herein, 820-nm tNIRS targeting the left DLPFC had significant positive effects on therapy for GAD that lasted at least 2 months. tNIRS may reverse the abnormality of time-varying brain network connections in GAD.

Keywords: DLPFC; GAD; HAMA; TMS-EEG; Transcranial near-infrared stimulation.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anxiety / therapy
Anxiety Disorders
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex*
Double-Blind Method
Electroencephalography
Humans
Prefrontal Cortex* / physiology
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation